Board Member/Member at Large

ELIZABETH FRY SOCIETY OF SIMCOE COUNTY – BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Board Member Job Descriptions: Director/ Member at large

November 2025

Overview

The Elizabeth Fry Society Simcoe Muskoka (EFSSM) is a non-profit charitable organization committed to preventing and reducing homelessness, criminalization, racialization, and poverty by addressing systemic causes through advocacy, services and maximizing human potential. EFSSM envisions healthy, hopeful, and housed individuals, living free from incarceration.

The following principles drive our work:

Compassion – Approach every situation with compassion while challenging personal beliefs and biases

Connection – Engage in meaningful connections to create a sense of belonging

Integrity – Speak with clarity, act with integrity and follow through with commitment

Well-being – Cultivate balance, support well-being, and thrive together

Stewardship – Use every interaction to influence a hopeful future

Authority

The Board of Directors is the legal authority for EFSSM. As a member of the Board, a Director acts in a position of trust for the Society and is responsible for the effective governance of the organization. Members of the Board do not engage in the day-to-day management of the organization, but as a whole, function in an oversight capacity to provide direction and guidance to the Executive Director to do so.

Qualifications & Skills

Commitment to the Mission, Vision, Principles and work of the organization.

Knowledge and skills in one or more of the following areas of Board governance: financial management; law and policy; resource development and fundraising; advocacy; marketing and public relations; strategic planning; human resources; communications; program development, management, and evaluation; and/ or knowledge, experience or lived experience in areas relevant to the criminalization, homelessness, marginalization, and stigmatization.

Ability to work effectively and collegially as a part of a team moving toward common goals.

Term

Directors/ Members at large are recommended by current members on the Board of Directors. These recommendations are reviewed and voted on by the Board, and new Directors can be invited to join the Board at any time during the year. Directors are asked to initially commit to serve for a two-year term. Directors may be re-elected for two additional two-year terms. Directors may be released at the end of their terms by resigning, or in accordance with the organization’s by-laws. Directors may stand for re-election if they are assuming a position on the Executive Committee as an Officer of the organization.

Requirements

Must be a member of the Society in good standing, including annual membership dues.

Willingness to also serve on another standing committee of the Board.

A time commitment of at least four 4-5 hours per month (includes preparation for and participation in meetings).

Capacity to attend Board meetings, committee meetings, the Annual General Meeting, and any Special General Meetings or All Agency Meetings as necessary. Meetings may be attended in person or by teleconference.

Board meetings are held quarterly on the third Wednesday of September, December, March and June at 5:00 PM unless otherwise scheduled.

Committee meetings are scheduled as necessary.

The Annual General Meeting is held annually in June.

Must be at least 18 years of age.

Responsibilities

Directors/ Members at large are ultimately responsible for organizational governance and oversight, community involvement and advocacy, financial management, policy development, and internal operations and procedures.

Basic Duties and Responsibilities:

Provides leadership and support for the organization.

Promotes EFSSM through community networking and events.

Supports the organization’s resource development and fundraising events and initiatives.

Fosters a positive working relationship with other Board members and employees, and participates cooperatively and effectively as team member.

Maintains adequate knowledge of the organization’s programs and outcomes in order to actively participate as an informed Board member, and effectively respond to internal issues, community needs, and emerging trends.

Attends Board meetings prepared to actively engage in discussions and deliberations.

Attends additional important meetings, such as the Annual General Meeting in June, or Special General Meetings and All Agency meetings as necessary, and attends special events as able.

Actively participates as a member of one of the standing committees of the Board.

Completes delegated tasks and fulfills commitments within the agreed-upon deadlines.

Reports to the Chair/ President of the Board and the Executive Director.

Performs additional duties as delegated by the Board, Chair, or Executive Director, as necessary.

Advises the appropriate committee chairpersons of significant information prior to the commencement of Board meetings.

Avoids and addresses any conflicts of interest, and adheres to the organization’s Confidentiality Policy.

Governance and Oversight:

Governs EFSSM according to the by-laws, policies, and procedures developed

by the Board, and in keeping with the spirit of the organization’s Mission, Vision, and Principles.

Establishes short and long-terms goals, objectives, and priorities for the organization in meeting the needs of the clients, community, employees, and stakeholders.

Provides advice, expertise, and relevant professional or specialist knowledge to the Board, Executive Director, and EFSSM staff as needed.

Participates in strategic planning, and evaluates the organization’s effectiveness through monitoring the development and use of assessment and control systems.

Community Involvement & Advocacy:

Represents the interests of EFSSM participants who are, previously have been, and/ or may be at risk of criminalization, homelessness, and poverty.

Acts as an advocate for the organization by effectively communicating EFSSM’s Mission, Vision, and Principles, as well as the ongoing need for our programs and services.

Promotes EFSSM’s events and fundraising initiatives, including the distribution of promotional posters and invitations, and the sale of event tickets.

Is transparent in communicating to members, stakeholders and the public, and responds to requests for information appropriately and in accordance with approved policy.

Relates the services of EFSSM to the work of other agencies through liaison and communication with local community groups, governments, and by ensuring that the Board is represented at in the Council of Elizabeth Fry Societies of Ontario (CEFSO) and the Canadian Association of Elizabeth Fry Societies (CAEFS).

Financial Management:

Monitors the financial health of the organization by ensuring that steps are taken to manage financial risks or issues.

Reviews and approves the annual budget and audit statements.

Reviews and approves quarterly financial statements.

Is accountable to funders for the monies provided and ensures the services are commensurate with the funding proposals submitted.

Solicits donations from local community members and businesses as necessary and appropriate.

Policy Development:

Ensures the Board as a whole understands and adheres to Board and general governance policies and procedures.

Develops appropriate structures and procedures for the organization.

Reviews, recommends and develops policy for the Board.

Internal Operations & Procedures:

Participates in the planning for succession and diversity of the Board.

Recruits new members and seeks nominations for election to the Board when appropriate.

Supports and participates in the performance evaluation of the ED.

Approves the hiring and/ or termination of the ED, including the ED’s employment contract, based on human resources recommendations.

Accountability

All Board members are accountable to EFSSM members, partners, funders, donors, and the community at large, for the competent, conscientious, and effective management of their duties and responsibilities.

Review & Approval

The Executive Committee reviews the Director/ Member at large position description every three years or as deemed necessary; recommended changes are presented to the Board of Directors for approval prior to the commencement of nominations for the upcoming Annual General Meeting.